Well, later today Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 users will get to ask “Where is my water currently located?” once again. Disney is releasing Where’s my Water? 2 for mobile Windows platforms – and simultaneously with the iOS versions! Well, almost simultaneously. The Windows Phone 8 version showed up a day late, and the Windows 8 version took even longer.

Update: Both versions are now live! Store links and more details after the break.

New stuff

Where’s My Water? 2 stars Swampy, the series’ original alligator protagonist. Or is he a crocodile? I forget. Joining Swampy are two crocogator friends, young girl Allie and Cranky the old-timer. Both were first introduced via downloadable expansions to the original game.

Possibly the most exciting additions to this sequel are the new Duck Rush levels. In these stages, players will frantically dig a path for water as the screen scrolls downward. It’s like Mr. Driller but with water. You’ll find these levels on the new overhead map.

Previous spin-off games like Where’s My Mickey? introduced new mechanics like wind, rain, and clouds. We’re not sure if those return in Where’s My Water? 2, but it does include new locations such as a soap factory and a beach. You’ll also be dealing with more than just water now. Steam and poison must also be used to solve puzzles, which should change up how some levels play.

Free to play

Unlike previous games in the series, Where’s My Water? 2 will be free to play. That would usually be good news for most gamers, unless you’re that guy who played a free game he didn’t like a few years ago and now grumbles about them in the comments constantly.

Our grouchy friend might just have a reason to complain this time, though. Yes, Where’s My Water? 2 is monetized with some innocuous In-App Purchases like power-ups and hints. But it’s also bogged down by a time-based energy mechanic.

Each time you play a puzzle in this game, you’ll consume some energy. When that energy runs out, you won’t be able to play any new levels until it recharges over time… Not unless you pony up to restore your energy. As you might imagine, this mechanic limits players’ ability to replay stages for better scores, to say nothing of just chilling out and enjoying the game as long as they feel like it.

Find that water already

Free to play concerns aside, Where’s My Water? 2 coming to Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 on the same date as iOS (and ahead of Android!) is a welcome show of support from Disney. Hopefully we’ll see more timely releases like this in the future.

Remember, these links aren’t working quite yet. When they go live, we’ll update the article.

Smart developers doing smart monetising. But seriously, good on Disney for really expanding our store with good stuff. The free price tag is a crowd puller too (till you realize this energy wait could get frustrating). But I'm really excited for WP. between these new flood of awesome apps and cortana on the horizon, i feel good :)

To receive a game same time with iOS is good news,but what makes it even more intresting is that Android is left out and is receiving it later.Finaly developers are puting their bets o WP platform (maybe slowly but at least WP is becoming more and more powerfull OS)

Only think that bothers me on apps (especialy games) is that devs port their games to WP but they also need to update them!!(For example where's my Water/Perry are totaly outdated and Where's my Mickey needs an update fix for the display resolution quality)

If it was Xbox-enabled, we'd say so in the article. But none of Disney's previous games have been Xbox-enabled (other than Disney Fairies on Windows 8), so it's not a surprise that this one isn't either.

WMW is one of the most interesting and fun games I have played on mobile since I first played Angry Birds. I honestly like it a LOT mroe then AB! Really happy to not only see a sequal, but to also have it on WP? This just made my days a lot better!

I have a feeling this is the Nokia surprise for tomorrow since this still hasn't been released today. Although it wouldn't make complete since that they would announce for Windows 8...then again, with the pending buyout, it could make sense.

It's a good game, but why does a 72 mb download consume 761 mb in my storage?? Yes this is the app alone, by far my biggest app, not including any data. Can anyone else verify this using storage check??

I hope the games are the same between platforms. I bought WMW for android a long ass time ago, then bought it for windows 8 when it came out. The windows 8 version only had like half of the levels as android/ios... w's it the same for WP? Anyway, downloaded it because I love the game and quite happy we had virtually the same launch date as IOS and certainly ahead of android.

I wish they would allow some kind of cloud save so I could play on WP and my surface whenever it releases for win 8

Its extremely laggy..and the frame rate also seems to be awful. Even the clearing of soil isn't smooth ad it should be and while swiping, soil mass is left behind. Its not a clean, smooth cut. I am really disappointed with this. And 761mb..!!! :O seems a bit toooo much to me.

I suppose if you compare the performance of this game to one that does play as smooth as milk you have a valid point. But if you just judge the game on its own merits it ain't that bad. As I said it's not as smooth as it could be but it's still playable. Or maybe the game performs differently on your 920 compared to mine because of some other factors involved

I just want it to be super fluid on my high specs device.. :D it runs better on my iPhone 4. I am just pissed cuz many devs aren't investing enough time and efforts in WP8..i am in love with rayman's run..mc4..and similar games..i want smooth running games..and i guess its not much that i am asking for.. ;)

That's a fair comment which I'm not about to argue. Given the type of game it is it's expected to run really smooth on hardware that can handle much more complex 3D games and play them smoothly without any lag. Maybe a future update will improve things but as it is a free game I'm not that bothered at the moment. If I had paid money for it I would be demanding an update to fix the lag.

Ya..a future update should fix things..and i understand what you want to say but giving something for free doesn't mean it can be substandard. Especially when it hogs 761 mb.. :D
PS- i just have 1 gb space empty on my phone. Need to buy that wireless seagate hard drive. :D ;)

I was the same because of the WP 8 interface being so different to anything else out there but I'm glad I made the switch because I now love it and can't even look at an Android or Apple phone without laughing.

The game is good, but no wonder it's free they freeze the game to say you are out of energy. You have to wait to play again or buy more energy for 99 cents. That's BS! Rather pay for the game to work without energy garbage.